The whirlwind that is December (2018)

 These two kids enjoying the Ankeny mayoral lighting of the tree.

 Sunday night framily dinner

 Our best or worst grinchy faces

 Noelle repeated her role as "Gabriel", she didn't want to learn a new part I guess. She now stands near 8 inches taller than her bestie. Britta is younger by eight months. 

 Dallas reprised his role of "I don't want to be here, in the play but my parents make me", aka a Wise Man. 

 I made the family come to Rieman Gardens with me. I like seeing the holiday train at night, it is Christmasy and festive!

 Can you tell Robert went to the grab last minute groceries He is so much more fun than I am!

 Noelle spent a bunch of December ill. Nine days straight of fevers, some as high as 104. Then well for a couple days, then ill again, stomach pain, then fine. Only symptoms were tummy pain and fever. We went in to get checked out the day she couldn't stand without crying from pain. By the time we saw the doctor she was bounce off the walls and more than normal! I can't wait for the bill, he requested urine, abdominal x-rays, and strep test.... All checked out fine. My neighbor thinks it could be a gluten issue.  As always, I am glad we have access to such great care, glad I can rule out appendicitis, and even with our "not insurance" we can afford to go when we need too. Robert and I are making guesses on the bill, I am going to guess $760.00, feel free to leave your guess in the comments.

 We also celebrate this studs birthday in December. Ten years old and he is an amazing kid.

 He had a friend over for lunch (school-day) and requested Jimmy Johns, and then I let them play Madden on the PS3 for 1 hour (again school-day) so that was extra birthday fun.

 We, (Robert and Lynne) pulled 8 batches of taffy this year for the Perfect Gift Event at church, each and everyone of the 48 pounds of candy was eaten!!!

 Noelle visited the photo booth at the Perfect Gift (many times), it was a neat, new addition this year. 

 I took Dallas on a gift buying date for his dad and siblings. Robert usually does this activity and again is fun and buys the kids a special drink, so I had too as well.

 I took this gal for the same gift buying experience!

 Another view of a sick day

 Library views

 Robert has been sending cards out to Patreon supporters. I was the elf and assembled and mailed all 50. We have another 50 cards to send this week!

 The kids made this all by themselves. I shut myself in my room.... please remind me to buy three separate kits next year. 

 Handsome dog, not eating the tree or anything under it

November 2018 happenings

 some puppy snuggles

 putting the Chevelle away for the winter

 Our first Christmas snack haul, mint m&ms, Shiner Christmas beer, butter cookies, and holiday blend coffee.  The coffee was a bust flavor for me this year, Robert loves those cookies and mint m&m's, but I did like the beer!

 I took the little two to the science center on a Tuesday while Emily was in class. They haven't changed much around that place. I wish it was a bit more elaborate or had more traveling exhibits.

 The Lego section was neat. This Lego castle in Walt Disney World form was beautiful

 We started in on the tree. It is a process. Our tree is getting fairly shot as well.  It looks good from afar and with all the gear on. But the greenery is defiantly showing its 12 year age. We are a bit in limbo with buying a new one, I'd like to take advantage of a post Christmas sale, but we will hopefully be in a new house next year and might need a different shape/height. So I will wait patiently and likely pay full price. Robert is in the same situation with a tv. He would love a new tv, ours is also 13 years old and the tech has changed quite a bit. But we really can't go much bigger in our currently living room, it really makes sense for us to wait.

 We helped serve community Thanksgiving dinner with the Food at First people in Ames. The kids had a blast pouring beverages and asking people what they would like to drink. 2019 goal is to volunteer more often!

 After our volunteering gig we headed to Lynne's condo in WDM and had Thanksgiving dinner with her. Emily made two pies, ham, macaroni and cheese, rolls and stuffing. Lynne made a turkey, mashed potatoes, appetizers, and a yummy kale salad. Also the best gravy!!!!

 November was finally the month Noelle has been waiting for. She reached the point in her math curiculum where they introduced multiplication. She has known some "times" for a while, and can skip count all the digits 1-12, to the 12 multiple, I know she will catch on quick. She was so tickled to finally have it in her assignment. Then she told me it was too easy, and she didn't need the pictures included as prompts!

April adopted a new pup. The kids are smitten. It fueled Emily's desire for another puppy

October 2018

October was filled with lots of football. In Ames is was renamed "Brocktober" in honor of our redshirt freshman QB taking the reins and making ISU hard to beat. We have won all games the last two Octobers!!!

 I am teaching science this year for our private homeschool classes. I have really enjoyed it. We dissected owl pellets. So cool!

 We cousin Audrey for an overnight and had our annual pumpkin shaped pizza. Since May and baseball season we have been going strong on a tradition of pizza on Friday nights. We change it up and do different types/places, and even though I love not cooking, I am kind of tired of pizza once a week. 

 We played hooky from homeschool PE and I called Em absent for band so we could take the afternoon at Deal's Orchard.  The weekends in Oct. did not have the best weather or we had plans, so I was fun mom and we headed over on a Monday, and had the place to ourselves.

 Still a common occurrence, comic book and food. 

 Carving pumpkins!

 I can't find any Halloween pics. I hope Robert has some on his phone and I can grab them for prosperity.

 Dallas was Brock Purdy, warming up on the sidelines in the black out uniforms on a cold day.

 Emily was a ringmaster inspired by "The Greatest Showman" 

 We raked a lot of leaves throughout Oct. and November. I asked the neighbor boys to come down and help bag. I had everything in piles already. We finally were up against possible snow the next day. Of course it didn't snow, but it was good to have a deadline. I think we had 47 bags total.

2018 Falls sports and school

 Noelle choose cheerleading with Upwards again this Fall. She mostly enjoyed it, but I wouldn't be surprised if she votes for dance next year. She was in the 2nd-5th grade group this year, and you could still tell there were quite a few gals that didn't want to be there, but the parents made them do it.

 Emily ran cross country with Ames Middle School. It was so fun to see her get better each meet and learn what her body was capable of.  It was not a great weather season. They had one meet canceled because of heat and another meet canceled due to too much rain, soggy conditions. AMS cross country does not practice in all conditions like high school does. I am not sure there was one week of the season where they got in all 4 practices. That made it hard to get miles under them. It also was an eye-opener of what being in the Ames district will be like for our family. Going to most meets in Des Moines, competing against Waukee, Centennial , Downing, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, SE Polk. Often times the 16th faster runner on Johnston's 7th grade team was faster than any runner on Ames 7th and 8th grade! 

 Dallas is taking a class called Language Learning, he has 40 minutes of grammar, 40 minutes literature and 40 minutes of writing/composition. The class has 4th and 5th graders, its on a two year cycle. It is very cute. He clearly has no idea of personal space, bunched over next to his table mate.

 This is what it looks like when we drop Em off at the middle school for practice or band, I always wait while she gets buzzed in. This year she is again taking band, and then stayed out for a study hall and then went to cross country practice after school.

 Dallas trying out a spinning wheel in literature class after they had read and discussed Rumpelstiltskin.

 Cheering on Em at a meet. Dallas loved running from spot to spot and yelling for everyone.  

 Noelle finished another phonics/grammar book this Fall. 

 Dallas enjoyed another season of flag football. It was great to have our neighbor Micah on the team (plus he is fast) and again play with Trent. Trent's dad Travis coached with Robert again. They make a great team and seem to really enjoy the process.

It is always a surprise to me, but Dallas often volunteers to go up and diagram sentences on the board.

Game time!

 2018

 2009 or 2010?

 A hot first tailgate, using the tent for shade.

 This is Dallas from tailgate #2

And then it rained and lighting for four hours.